Sterilizing apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet ,2.

Patented Oct. 3, 1893.

A. V. M. SPRAGUE. STERILIZING APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN V. M. SPRAGUE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THESPRAGUE-SOHUYLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

STERILIZING 'APPARATQS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,967, dated October3, 1893. A

Application filed August 15,1892. Serial No. 443.171. (NomodeL) new anduseful Improvement in sterilizing Apparatus; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip: tion of thesame, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

This lmprovement relates to sterilizing apparatus for surgeons uses, andis designed, more partlcularly, for treating fibrous dress-.

ings by means of steamjand heat.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described and definitely claimed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 isan end elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similarview looking from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalsection of the cylinder in lineococof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical crosssection in line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one ofthe locking devices of the cover or door.

In this apparatus a receptacle A is employed, consisting of threecylinders a, b, 0, located one inside of another with dead air spacesbetween them. These cylinders are closed at one end by a solid back d,and at the other by a cover or door f, hinged at g so as to be turneddown. The door is locked in its closed position by a set of thumb nuts h71. attached to screws 71 t' (Fig. 6). These screws rest in open slotsjj formed in the edge of the door and. end of the cylinder, and arearranged to turn up and down,the inner ends being provided with journalsla it for the purpose. When turned down horizontally, as in Fig. 6, theend of the nut bears against the door and looks it in place. When turnedup it frees from the slot and frees the door. This is a simple andconvenient fastening, as thereby the door can be tightened in place andcan be readily opened. Theinner cylinder, a, is entire and contains thewater pan Z, and the trays m m on which the materials to be treated areplaced. The other two cylinders, b 0, have an opening at in the bottomin which is located the burner B. The edges of this opening are closedbetween the two cylinders 19 0, thus forming a dead air space betweenthem, and the outside of the middle tion pass upward at the top andescape through a chimney 0. The heat thus surrounds the whole ofcylinder aand heats the chamber to a high degree.

The water receptacle Z is at the bottom of cylinder at, and is, veryshallow, by which means the water is readily converted into steam, andthis steam rising in the chamber becomes highly heated and to such adegree that it is practically superheated and becomes dry.

The trays m m-one or more-consist preferably of thin metal sheetsperforated to allow ready passage of the steam and heat, and they aresupported above the water by any suitable means'that shown in thedrawings consisting of a removable skeleton frame of hoop or band ironp, provided with lugs which rest under the trays.

r (Figs. 1 and indicates a nozzle which enters the cylinder at the rearend and opens to the interior. To this is attached a T connectionoutside, provided on one side with a blow 01$ 3, and on the other withan air inlet valve 25, and in the center with a thermometer o.

In use the fibrous material to be treated is placed ,on the trays, wateris placed in the chamber and heat is applied outside. Wet steam isgenerated under the first action of the heat. This wet steam saturatesthe bandages, causing them to open and expand, and thoroughly fillingthem with water. As the heat increases the steam grows hotter and drier,and coming in contact with the dry heated sides of the chamber itbecomes practically superheated. This results from the direct contact ofthe flame with the inner cylinder a, and the passage of the heat upthrough the flue and around the whole top of the cylinder, thus makingthe top as hot as the bottom and equalizing the temperature throughout.This hot and dry steam coming in contact with the bandages dries themout and leaves them in soft and pliable condition best for use.

The water pan is made integral with the cylinder, and is provided at itsouter end with a vertical flange to which holds the Water and preventsescape through the door. Preferably the water is inserted in chargesthrough the open door, but if desired feed and discharge pipes may becarried through the cylinder for the purpose of supplying anddischarging the water. The cylinder is supported by suitable legs to to.

It is obvious that the receptacle A might be made effective with the useof two cylinders instead of three. The same flue space for the upwardpassage of the heat around the inner cylinder would be made and theresult would be the same. Three, however, are more effective than two,as the third cylinder excludes the contact of cold air.

It is of special importance in my improved construction that excess ofair be excluded from circulation about theinner cylinder and thatexterior radiation be prevented. Otherwise a sterilizing temperature anda proper dryness of the steam cannot be secured. Radiation is preferablyprevented by the double wall inclosing a dead air space though a singlewall protected thoroughly by a non-conducting cover of asbestus or thelike would operate to secure a like result. The burner is situated inthe openingin this outer cylinder in manner to exclude air from passingoutside of it and so that the amount required for thorough combustion isintroduced in the midst of the gas supply, previously mixed bypreference with a small portion of air. The burner in the presentinstance is shown as made larger than half the length of the cylindersand should in practice be longer rather than shorter. The air inlets maybe in the form of nipples and have their upper openings in closeproximity to the burner opening whereby the commingling of the mixed airand gas with the requisite additional amount of air is made verythorough, and all necessity for the admission of air in excess iseffectually precluded. The gas thus twice mixed with air is forcedthrough fine burner perforations and burned in immediate contact withthe water pan in the inner cylinder. The products of combustion are keptin close contact with said cylinder by the enveloping cylinder and arespread out and around the inner cylinder in a thin sheet of uniformthickness and in manner to thoroughly heat said cylinder. The escapepipe is by preference centrally located as shown. The steam generated bythese means will be uniformly exposed to heat conducted through themajor part of the cylindrical surface of receptacle 0. and will be hotand dry and suitable for sterilizing articles placed on the supportingtrays.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a sterilizing apparatus the receptacle comprising the innercylinder and an inclosing cylinder arranged to leave a narrowcircumferential space between said cylinders said latter cylinder beingprovided with a covering to prevent radiation and with an exit 0, incombination with an air mixing burner seated in and substantiallyfilling an opening in the outer cylinder immediately below the inner oneand adapted to exclude the passage of air in excess, substantially asset forth.

2. In a sterilizing apparatus the receptacle comprising the innercylinder and an inclos ing cylinder arranged to leave a narrowcircumferential space between said cylinders said latter cylinder beingprovided with a covering to prevent radiation and with an exit 0, incombination with an air mixing burner seated in and substantiallyfilling an opening in the outer cylinder immediately below the inner oneand adapted to exclude the passage of air in excess, said burner havinga chamber for mingled air and gas, air inlet nipples and burnerperforations, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sterilizing apparatus the inner cylinder provided with a waterpan 1 formed by a partition M, the surrounding cylinder having anon'radiating cover, and an exit pipe, a burner fitting an opening inthe bottom of the latter cylinder, a door hinged to the bottom of saidcylinder, and means for tightly clamping said door to the same,substantially as set forth.

4.. A sterilizer consisting of a cylinder having means for permittingaccess thereto and for the retention of a limited quantity of water, anon-condnctingjacket with the chamher, a narrowliue provided with anoutlet, and a relatively large air and gas mixing burner situated at thelower portion of the said flue, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

A. V. M. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

R. F. Osooon, CHAS. A. WIDENER.

ITO

ITS

